out of

preposition

1

a(1)

—used as a function word to indicate direction or movement from within to the outside of

walked out of the room

(2)

—used as a function word to indicate a change in quality, state, or form

woke up out of a deep sleep

b(1)

—used as a function word to indicate a position or situation beyond the range, limits, or sphere of

out of control

(2)

—used as a function word to indicate a position or state away from the usual or expected

out of practice

2

—used as a function word to indicate origin, source, or cause

a remarkable colt out of an ordinary mare

built out of old lumber

fled out of fear

3

—used as a function word to indicate exclusion from or deprivation of

cheated him out of his savings

out of breath

4

—used as a function word to indicate choice or selection from a group

one out of four survived

5

—used as a function word to indicate the center of an enterprise or activity

runs her business out of her home

Phrases

out of it

1

: not part of a group, activity, or fashion

2

: in a dazed or confused state

Examples of out of in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Coastal Villas is one of two projects that Oceanside’s Housing and Neighborhood Services Department is recommending for approval out of five responses to a notice of available funding that the city issued Feb. 9. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2024

On a Friday morning in May, 100 flights out of, into, or within the U.S. were canceled. —Daniel Desrochers, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2024

Breakfasts got more self-served and automated, with waffles and pancakes tumbling out of machines. —Alina Selyukh, NPR, 13 May 2024

The couple have made a habit of keeping their kids’ faces (and names) out of the public eye, but speaking to Today co-hosts Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, Reynolds joked that the only person who might know the baby’s name is the world’s biggest pop star. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 13 May 2024

Neither a hung parliament nor a new election is out of the question. —Joseph Wilson, Chicago Tribune, 12 May 2024

Similarly, the Bear Steamer, which is $40 at Amazon, will get those pesky wrinkles out of your favorite travel clothes fast. —Teddy Minford, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2024

He was pulled after recording the first out of the sixth inning, leaving two men on. —Isaac Azout, Miami Herald, 12 May 2024

The oldest members of the generation famously entered the job market during the Great Recession, and millennials of all ages are also on the hook for paying for more of their inflated retirement costs out of their own pocket than their parents. —Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 30 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Kids Definition

out of

preposition

1

a

: from within to the outside of

walked out of the room

b

—used to indicate a change in quality, state, or form

woke out of a deep sleep

c

: beyond the range or limits of

moved out of sight

2

: because of, from

fled out of fear

3

—used to indicate source, material, or cause

built out of old lumber

4

—used to indicate the state or condition of being without something especially that was there before

the store is out of bread

cheated us out of our savings

5

: from among

one out of four survived

6

—used to indicate the center of a business or activity

runs her business out of her home